HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - ELECTED MAYOR (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS City Manager Appro
Item to be presented
DATE: April 13, 1999
SUBJECT: ELECTED MAYOR
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
r Frank Ferry
To allow the citizens of the City of Santa Clarita, on the April 2000 municipal
election ballot, to decide whether they want a directly elected mayor and if so,
whether it be for a two- or four-year cycle.
BACKGROUND
The City Council requested staff to provide information regarding changing from a
non -elected mayor to an elected mayor. Changing from having a rotating mayor, to
an elected mayor would need to be decided by the voters pursuant to Government
Code sections 34900 through 34901.
The office is established under Government Code by City Council action to place a
measure on the ballot, the form of which is controlled by section 34901. The
measure must ask if the voters prefer the office to have a two- or a four-year term,
although a subsequent election can be held to alter a term from two to four years or
vice versa. If the measure passes, one of the council seats on the next ballot is
designated the mayor's seat and the post is filled by subsequent election. California
Government Code 34902 (1992)
The ballot would read:
A. Shall the City of Santa Clarita have a directly elected mayor? YES NO
B. Shall the term of office be for 2 years or 4 years?
Two Four
The elected mayor "is a member of the city council and has all of the powers and
duties of a member of the city council." An elected mayor has all the powers of an
appointed mayor set forth in Government Code sections 40601 through 40604.
The following eighteen cities were surveyed from the "League of California Cities
Directory." The cities were chosen based on a population of 90,000 or more. 11 of
the 18 cities directly elect their mayor, 5 of the 18 cities choose their mayor based on
a majority of three votes of their council (not based on rotation), and 2 of 18 cities
(Santa Clarita and Downey) select their mayor based on rotation.
City
Population
Mayor Selection Process
Los Angeles
3,485,398
Elected Mayor
Long Beach
425,800
Elected Mayor
Glendale
197,560
Majority of Three Councilmembers
Santa Clarita
141,690
Rotational Mayor Based on Votes
Torrance
141,500
Elected Mayor
Pomona
141,385
Elected Mayor
Pasadena
135,000
Elected Mayor
Lancaster
123,197
Elected Mayor
Inglewood
118,484
Elected Mayor
Palmdale
116,202
Elected Mayor
El Monte
115,000
Elected Mayor
Simi Valley
106,000
Elected Mayor
West Covina
105,000
Majority of Three Councilmembers
Burbank
102,000
Majority of Three Councilmembers
Norwalk
100,948
Majority of Three Councilmembers
98,631
Rotational Mayor Based on Votes
Downey
92,500
Majority of Three Councilmembers
South Gate
Compton
90,454
Elected Mayor
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